Active Ingredient: Gratitude

One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. – Luke 17:15 (CEB) 

Medicine containers display lists of all the ingredients used in the medication. There’s usually a separate section that shows its active ingredients—the items in the medicine that make it effective. All the ingredients work together to be a healing agent, but it’s the active ingredients that really make the medicine effective. 

Luke tells the story of ten men with skin disease, banished to the outskirts of town to live out their “unclean” days isolated from others. When they see Jesus passing by, they cry out for mercy, and he sends them to the priests to be declared clean again. As they go, their skin clears up. One of them returns to thank Jesus, who declares the man healed due to his faith. 

If those ten men had ingredient labels, one would notice the ingredients of faith (in believing that Jesus could be merciful to them) and obedience (in going to the priests as instructed before their skin even cleared). For the one who returned, gratitude would be the active ingredient. All ten were cured from their skin condition. Only the one was also healed.  

Indeed, gratitude acknowledges God as the source of healing and wholeness. Considering the labels of ingredients in our own lives, I hope someone looking would find love, perhaps faith and obedience, maybe some compassion, and even a little peace would be nice. But if they were to look at the active ingredients, would they find gratitude? 

Prayer
Give us the courage to lead with gratitude so that we might be healed from our physical, spiritual, emotional, societal, and every kind of affliction that ails us. Amen.

About the Author
The Rev. Phiwa Langeni is the Ambassador for Innovation & Engagement of the United Church of Christ. They are also the Founder of Salus Center, the only LGBTQ resource and community center in Lansing, MI.